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Best Truck Accident Lawyer Newport Beach
Even though the commercial trucking industry is highly regulated, it’s still pretty much the most dangerous vehicle on Orange County roads.
The roads and freeways in Orange County are dangerous enough, but when you mix commercial trucks it just makes it a volatile situation.
The odds are that if you are hit by a semi-truck you won’t have to worry about the driver being uninsured (due to strict regulations), but that only brings a small sense of relief.
Living in Orange County we all have seen our fair share of 18 wheelers driving down the 405, 55, and maybe 73 freeways.
It can literally be a nightmare if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident with a semi-truck.
The main thing is that injuries from a trucking accident are usually pretty bad for the driver of the car, because of the size of the truck most drivers and car passengers don’t stand a chance.
And there are so many little things that people don’t think about until it happens, for example, some injury settlements are taxable – did you know?
Why Contact A Truck Accident Lawyer In Newport Beach?
Daniel Kim is an experienced truck accident lawyer in Newport Beach that has been helping residents for years.
Daniel has won many awards over the years and has earned the best reputation among any Orange County injury lawyer.
On Yelp and Google, Daniel Kim has over 1,000 Positive reviews from past clients that have shown their appreciation online.
Our law firm is available to answer any questions 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, so if you need help call us now.
Newport Beach is a special place to live or visit and we take pride in representing the local people in Newport Beach to ensure you don’t get taken advantage of by the big bully insurance companies.
If you want to work with a compassionate truck accident lawyer here locally in Newport, then call us for a free consultation.
In addition, we have a policy that offers no risk, so if we don’t win your case then you won’t pay us any fees – we work on a contingency basis.
Practice Areas We Specialize In
At The Law Offices of Daniel Kim, our personal injury attorneys in Newport Beach exclusively handle motor vehicle accident cases. This sets us apart from other law firms that take any case just to make a quick dollar. Our outstanding attorneys focus on motor vehicle accidents. This allows us to offer the best service to our clients who want real experience and knowledge.
Car Accidents – This can involve any type of crash from an Uber wreck, to maybe a teenage driver hitting you, or maybe an old lady ran a red light and rear-ended your car. Call us for any automotive-related accident.
Motorcycle Accidents – As we all know riding a motorcycle is very dangerous, and almost all motorcycle accidents lead to severe injuries.
Pedestrian Accidents – These are always bad accidents because a pedestrian has no chance against a 2,000 lb. car that runs them over.
Bike Accidents – Bike accidents always lead to a serious injury, even if you are wearing a helmet. Broken bones and road rash are common in bike accidents.
Uber Accidents – Uber and Lyft have become so popular that sometimes it seems like every other car on the road is an Uber or Lyft driver. Uber has a unique commercial insurance policy. Uber passengers and other cars who were hit by an Uber driver can file a claim.
How Much is My Truck Accident Settlement Worth?
Living in a busy state like California with lots of freeways comes with a lot of risks, and one of those risks is being hit by a semi-truck.
For the most part, any auto accident that involves an 18 wheeler will usually entail some pretty serious injuries.
Insurance companies and the big commercial trucking companies can be complicated and frustrating to deal with after an accident.
All US tractor-trailer drivers are certified pros who had to get special training in order to acquire a commercial driver’s license.
There is no one formula that your truck accident attorney will use to determine a proper settlement amount, but at The Law Offices of Daniel Kim, you can bet we will get you maximum compensation for your injuries.
Semi-truck accidents can involve a lot of moving pieces like a police report (what if a police report is wrong), fighting with insurance adjusters, paying hospital bills, etc.
Some of the factors that will affect your settlement are things like:
- How serious are your injuries
- Who is at fault, is it 60/40 or was the truck driver 100% at fault, etc.
- Lost wages from missing work due to accident
- Loss of personal property like your car is totaled in the crash
To keep a CDL, truckers must follow certain safety rules and regulations that are meant to protect people in Newport Beach and California.
There is, for example, a rule for the max amount of hours a trucker can drive on any given day, and breaking this rule could be viewed as negligence on their part while driving too many hours.
Even criminal penalties or personal injury liability could arise with circumstances like this.
Truck Accidents and Liability Insurance Policy Limits
With all the drivers in Newport Beach and California, it’s necessary for semi-trucks to have liability insurance.
Just the proper insurance policy can help the public in truck accidents where the driver was at fault and seriously injured somebody.
The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) requires that all truck drivers (trucking companies) have minimum coverage.
The minimum insurance required depends on the type of cargo being hauled, like:
- Non-hazardous goods moved in vehicles >10,0001 lbs: $750,000
- Non-hazardous goods moved in vehicles <10,001 lbs: $300,000
- Hazardous materials moved by private carriers: $5,000,000
- Oil moved by private carriers: $1,000,000
These are only the minimum requirements that the FMCSA has.
Many commercial trucking companies require minimum liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 no matter the material hauled.
Just trying to understand how these insurance policies work can be very confusing, which is why you need a veteran truck accident lawyer like Daniel Kim on your side.
Common Types of 18-Wheeler Accidents in Newport Beach
Driving on the Orange County freeways can be extremely dangerous, especially when you mix in large semi-trucks that share the roads.
Of course, these large commercial trucking accidents can happen on major freeways, commute roads, busy intersections, and streets throughout Newport Beach.
The size of these 18 wheelers or semi-trucks is what makes the accidents with them so devastating especially when they come in contact with vehicles much smaller.
In some cases, it can send a car spinning into traffic, or passengers of cars can find themselves under the semi-truck getting crushed.
These are very scary situations with injurious results too often.
It is always wise to drive extra careful when you are driving in and around semi-trucks.
These large vehicles are very hard to control if the driver has to make a quick driving accident (like hitting the brakes, turning the wheel to avoid an object, etc.).
If you were injured in an accident described below then contact our truck accident lawyers today.
Below are some of the most common types of truck accidents:
- Jackknife – refers to a semi-truck turning in an L shape
- Underrides – when a car goes underneath an 18-wheeler
- T-bone – if a truck driver runs a red light it can easily hit another vehicle on the side
- Road Construction – may be difficult to maneuver the truck through this
- Rollover – when a driver loses control the truck can easily slide and rollover
- Rear-end – larger trucks can cause serious injuries (or death) and property damage
- Wide turn – swinging turns happen when a trucker swings wide left before making a right turn
- Improper loading – can result in cargo coming insecure and falling out
Main Reasons for Truck Accidents in Newport Beach
Newport Beach has semi-trucking accidents on their roads and quite often the damage and injuries are horrendous.
There are over 100,000 people injured in trucking accidents a year in the U.S. and Orange County will have its fair share.
In recent years, there has been more effort on the part of government organizations and trucking companies to help reduce the number of accidents on the road.
There are even specific regulations in California that deal with the size and weight limits of trucks and the cargo they ship.
Speeding is something that definitely increases the chances of an accident, so it is always safer to drive carefully and a little slower.
Some of the common causes for semi-truck accidents in Newport Beach are listed below:
- Speeding
- Trucking company negligence
- Truck driver errors
- Lack of maintenance
- Overweight trucks
- Use of drugs or alcohol
- Trucker fatigue (overworked)
- Carelessness
- Lack of sleep
- Unsecured or unsafe loads
18-wheeler or semi-truck accidents can be very serious with so many lives being involved.
The liability and legality of these accidents can be very complicated and this is why you need to call an experienced truck accident lawyer.
Common Types of Trucks on Newport Beach Roads
Today on the Newport Beach roads and freeways like the (5, 405) there are a lot of large trucks which are the cause of many types of accidents.
Many trucks like town trucks and garbage trucks use side streets and are in residential neighborhoods, near schools etc.
Anytime a large vehicle like an 18-wheeler or garbage truck is driving near a lot of pedestrians and kids, the danger level goes up immensely.
Truck drivers and the public both need to be careful and follow all traffic laws that apply to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicles.
Below is a list of the more common large trucks that pose a danger to pedestrians and motorists.
- Tow trucks – ironically tow trucks are meant to clean up after accidents
- Container haulers – loaded on trailers for final delivery
- Bull haulers – They carry livestock, cattle, sheep, and horses
- Semi-trucks – the notorious 18-wheelers, big rigs that cause severe damage and injuries
- Garbage trucks – super dangerous because they are always in residential areas near children
Newport Beach Truck Accident Statistics
According to a report released by the United States Department of Labor, there are around 15.5 million large trucks on the nation’s roads, with big rigs and semi-trucks accounting for 2 million of that number.
Up to 70 percent of all freight is moved in the USA by semi-trucks, and a large chunk of that happens in California.
But when there are a lot of trucks, there are a lot of accidents.
According to recent records from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 11% of all motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. involved a large truck, with 116,000 people reporting injuries as a result, and nearly 4000 reported deaths.
In California, the same report noted that there were 322 fatalities as a result of an accident involving a truck.
The Law Offices of Daniel Kim – Costa Mesa Office
Address: 611 Anton Boulevard, Suite #1000, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: (714) 790-3519
